And whatever opposes the texts, then it is an innovation by agreement of the Muslims, and that which is not known to oppose [the texts], then it is not always called ‘bidah’ . Al-Shafi’i (rahimahullaah) said: Bidah is of two types: A bidah that opposes the book, or the sunnah, or consensus, or a narration from some of the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), this is the misguided innovation. And a bidah which does not oppose any of these things [qur’an, sunnah, athar, ijmaa’]. This is what can be good (hasanah), due to the saying of Umar, “What an excellent innovation this is”. This statement or what is similar to it has been related by al-Bayhaqi with in authentic chain of narration in al-Madkhal…